Emergency Services

A Case for Support of Emergency Services at Rice Memorial Hospital

CHANGING TO GROW… ADAPTING TO SERVE YOU

Rice Emergency Staff save lives every day – the next one could be yours.

Impact

Our ER served 13,351 patients of all ages from Kandiyohi and surrounding counties in 2016. One in every five persons seen is admitted to Rice or transferred to a larger facility. Emergency medicine, level three trauma care, laboratory and other services are available 24/7/365 to all, including emergency responders and hospitals in the region.

Problem

13% of all patients seen in our ER last year had an emergency involving mental illness or substance abuse. Many patients who suffer from mental illnesses or use mind altering substances pose a threat to themselves and others. Emergency Departments across the country have transitioned to secured, monitored environments requiring weapon screening, on-site security officers, and regular police intervention to safely manage these new types of patients. It is now time for us to make similar changes to enable our ER staff safely care for the myriad of emergencies they respond to daily.

Solution

A community investment of $550K will help fund the physical changes in the ER to better serve you.

Your support will mitigate the safety risk to patients, visitors and staff; allowing Rice to remain proactive in preventing violence in the ER and throughout our Hospital by:

Increasing staff ability to more clearly observe patients and visitors in the waiting area – currently there is no clear line of sight due to walls and other physical barriers.

Improving patient flow by minimizing contact between discharged patients and patients seeking care – currently all patients enter and leave the ER treatment area through the same door, which results in congestion, avoidable contact and unnecessary exposure.

Relocating security staff in the vicinity of the ER – currently the security office is located on the opposite side of the hospital campus.

Renovating secured space for the medication dispensing machine, so patients can receive their medication and necessary instructions in private – the medication dispenser is currently in the waiting area.